Housh signs one-year deal with Ravens

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T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s stint on the unemployment lines didn’t last long as the Baltimore Ravens have signed the former Seahawks receiver to a one-year contract.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Houshmandzadeh, who was released by Seattle on Saturday, agreed to the veteran minimum contract with the Ravens. But since his $7 million salary with the Seahawks was guaranteed this year, Seattle will now pay him the remaining $6.15 million for 2010.

The 32-year-old receiver caught 79 passes for the Seahawks last year, but didn’t fit in with new coach Pete Carroll’s rebuilding plans.

Houshmandzadeh went on KJR-AM with Dave “Softy” Mahler late Monday morning and said he’d “had a funny feeling” about his position with the Seahawks for the last couple weeks.

He told Mahler the Seahawks obviously want to see what younger receivers Deon Butler, Golden Tate and Ben Obomanu can do. And while he said he wasn’t totally surprised by his own release, he was shocked by the number of veterans cut by the team on Sunday.

“I guess they feel like they can bring better players in,” he said. “A lot of those guys are good players who have proved they can play. The powers-to-be see different. Hopefully they have a plan and everything comes to fruition. You knew with a new coach coming in there’d be change. You just didn’t know it would be so drastic.”

Houshmandzadeh said he chose Baltimore because he felt the Ravens were one of five or six teams with a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl even before his arrival.

He’ll join former NFC West receiver Anquan Boldin in Baltimore, as the long-time Arizona Cardinals standout also signed with the Ravens this year.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco also has veteran receivers Derrick Mason and Donte Stallworth to throw to, though Stallworth has a broken foot and isn’t expected back until October.

Houshmandzadeh becomes the second Seahawks player added to the Ravens in the past week, with Baltimore having traded for cornerback Josh Wilson last Tuesday. The Ravens’ roster also includes former Seahawks defenders Cory Redding and Ken Hamlin.

The Ravens don’t play Seattle this year, but Housh will have a chance to go against his former Bengals team twice in AFC North battles, including a Week 2 meeting in Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, Matt Leinart has signed with Houston, so scratch any thoughts of him being reunited with Pete Carroll. Instead he hooks up with former Seahawks offensive coordinator Gregg Knapp, who is now the quarterbacks coach for the Texans.

The agents told Acee their discussions with the Seahawks about Jackson focused on what other top receivers are earning and were conducted in “a philosophical way.” Jackson is suspended by the NFL for the first three games and could be forced to sit out an additional three games now because of his failure to report, though that matter is being fought by the players association.

Should be another busy day out at Seahawks HQ with more comings and goings and practice week starting for Sunday’s opener against the 49ers. I’ll keep things updated here and you can also follow me on Twitter at gregjohns1.